|
|
|
|
|
|
Amazon.com, 
Amazon.co.uk, 
Amazon.de or 
Amazon.ca
|
 Grey Morning  (23 ratings)by W. A. Straub, Jr. Page 3 of 4 Upon the plain below them, a dark mass appeared on the field and spread slowly over the plain like some creeping mass of molasses. In the early-morning half-light, it was difficult to make out. But Daniel knew what it was. So did each and every man around him. On the valley below, a force many times their strength was assembling. It would not be long. The rains began again, and he heard curses form those around him. The waiting was more than some men could bear, and several threw down their weapons and ran. They were all from the fyrd. The karls stood firm. The dark mass began moving toward their small line, and Daniel drew his breath. He gripped the shaft of his spear tighter and felt the hard wood press into his palm. Closer it crept. He could make out the tips of swords, and could hear the neighing of horses. Horses! We have none! They will ride us down! Damn this rain! "Above!" went the cry from the front line of karls. The men in front raised their shields to ward against the inevitable hail of arrows that could be heard whistling at them. The fyrd had few shields. If the enemy remembered their last encounter, we would order his archers to fire over the line of karls into the fyrd behind, where his arrows would find many a mark among the unarmored men. The enemy captain was no fool, and the arrows rained down on the defenseless fyrd. Daniel huddled behind the back of the man before him, using him as a shield. The rains continued, as did the arrows. The man to Daniel’s left fell with a strangled cry. The shaft of an arrow protruded from an already gushing wound in his chest. He fell at Daniel’s feet and was dead in moments. Then the assault from above ended as quickly as it began. Daniel was unharmed, by some grace of God. The men looked around to see how many were left. So few. A horn sounded from the dark mass, and a great shout went up as they began moving faster now. The lead ranks of horses broke from the host and streamed over the plain toward them. There must be a thousand horse! Daniel steeled himself against the fear that was welling up inside his belly. More men broke around him and ran. It is too late! You will be run down! The karls took their axes and stepped in front of the line, giving themselves room to swing their deadly weapons. And the first horse fell open them. The karls gave a great shout, and cut down countless mounts as they crashed into the line of axe men. But more came. After the first wave of horse broke and fled, a second wave fell upon the brave karls. This time, many were killed, as they had no time to bring their weapons around for another swing before the onslaught fell. The fighting was in the fyrd now, as men valiantly tried to fend off the mounted knights with spear and sword. The whole scene was distorted by the morning half-light and the damnable rain that obscured vision. Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001 W. A. Straub, Jr., sffworld.com. All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the author. The author has submitted the work in accordance with and in agreement with the following Submission Guidelines. |
Copyright © 1999 - 2004 sffworld.com